DARK SUMMER ~~ Iris Johansen
St. Martin's Press
ISBN-10: 0-312-36808-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-36808-1
November 2008
Romantic Suspense

Present Day

When Jude Marrok's dog Ned is shot on a search and rescue mission in the Caribbean, he knows it's no accident. See, Ned isn't like most dogs, as his keen senses have been enhanced by a shaman's potion, and now a madman wants to examine Ned so he can use this secret for his own nefarious purpose. With no one to turn to, Jude's only hope is the local vet shelter that has been set up at the rescue site; he leaves Ned in the care of Devon Brady while he goes hunting for the guy who shot Ned. He doesn't have the time to tell Devon she might be in danger and hopes those searching for him and Ned won't connect them with the shy veterinarian. Jude's soon proven wrong as the gunmen follow Devon and Ned back to the states. And in order to keep Devon and her friends safe, Jude is forced to kidnap them.

Having finally managed to make something of herself since her divorce from an abusive husband, Devon Brady enjoys taking care of animals who haven't had the easiest life. When Jude Marrock storms into her tent and leaves her with his wounded dog, she has no other choice but to take Ned back home with her when Jude doesn't return. She's sure Jude will come looking for Ned, as she noticed the intense bond the two share, but she never imagined it would be under dangerous circumstances. Now, Devon finds herself caught up in a world of lies and betrayal, and the only one who can help her is the one who has put her in the line of fire.

As Jude and Devon try to stay one step ahead of those pursuing them, they will have to come to terms with the intense emotions they have for one another and hope they can make it out alive if they ever hope to be together.

Let it be known that I've always enjoyed Iris Johansen's stories, all the way back to her Loveswepts. But DARK SUMMER left me wanting much more from an author I can normally rely on for engrossing characters and a thrilling romance. The main problems with Ms. Johansen's latest are the lackluster characters and the dialogue they have with each other. Jude and Devon have no chemistry whatsoever, and their conversations are wooden and uninspiring, and the same goes for the other characters in the book. Also, Jude is not the most sympathetic of heroes, putting Devon's life in danger and leaving her alone without even warning her about it. Devon's a mixed bag of strength and vulnerability, but at the wrong time. She stands up to Jude, whom she barely knows and is a potential threat to her, but can't hang up the phone when her abusive ex-husband threatens her. The character I enjoyed most is Ned, whose desire to help people, along with his mysterious abilities, kept me interested in this book.

Due to a lack of connection and stilted dialogue, fans of Iris Johansen may find themselves disappointed with DARK SUMMER.

Courtney Michelle